(Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology, today participated in the Homeland Security Committee hearing called: “The Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Incident: A Poorly Coordinated Federal Response to an Incident with Homeland Security Implications.”

“I think this incident, with Mr. Andrew Speaker, highlights that the federal government is not fully prepared to respond when individuals have highly contagious, communicable diseases,” said Langevin.  “We need increased coordination among federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the ability to isolate and quarantine people who may pose a health risk to others, especially when they are uncooperative.”

Prior to the incident involving Mr. Speaker that unfolded last week, Langevin was in the process of coordinating hearings on this same topic to determine whether the federal government was prepared to respond to such an incident.

Langevin also wrote a letter to Homeland Security Michael Chertoff on May 31 expressing his concerns. The letter read, in part:

“…It is important that the federal government first have the ability to quickly identify sources of potentially contagious diseases.  It is also critical that once these pathogens have been identified, federal, state, and local governments must fully cooperate with each other and with the medical community to isolate those found to have highly contagious communicable diseases as quickly as possible.  Finally, the federal government must have contingency plans in place for scenarios when people refuse to cooperate with the appropriate authorities.  I fully believe that each of these needs must be met to effectively deal with preventing and containing an outbreak of a highly-contagious disease…

“…I am hopeful that both the Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will effectively learn from mistakes made and will be able to move forward to improve coordination and implement plans and procedures to prevent and contain potential outbreaks…”

Langevin finds it disconcerting that, five years after its establishment, the Department of Homeland Security is still grappling with basic procedures such as properly placing an individual’s name on a watch list, especially in emergency circumstances. “I will continue to pursue this issue as part of my subcommittee work,” continued Langevin.

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